opprobrious
1
9.9
- adjective
- /əˈproʊbriəs/
- Formal
:
oprobioso
- Her opprobrious comments during the debate shocked the audience and led to her downfall.
Examples
-
The politician faced opprobrious remarks from the media after his controversial statement.
-
Using an opprobrious label to describe someone's actions can often lead to public shame.
-
An opprobrious eye well cast back to be sure.
Fiction book (1998) -
This is really disingenuous and opprobrious, in my opinion.
Blog text (15) -
Oh, and used opprobrious epithets at the top of his voice in the library. "How curious," said Kit.
Fiction book (1991) -
Any lie or "opprobrious epithets" were considered insults, and each one was "equal to a blow" or any other form of assault.
Academic text (1994) -
At the same time, my findings also constituted evidence that the credibility of the argument that there was something distinctive and distinctively opprobrious about interstate relations among asymmetrically powerful socialist states had diminished substantially since Stalin's time.
Academic text (1990)
Synonyms
89
4.7
Causing shame because it is morally wrong
70
4.9
Using insulting words or hurtful behavior toward another person
46
3.0
Very bad or shocking behaviour that makes people lose respect
10
9.9
Saying rude and untrue things to hurt someone's reputation
2
6.5
Showing disapproval in voice or look
2
9.3
Often criticizes people harshly for their actions or choices
1
7.9
Showing strong disapproval of someone or something
1
7.6
Likely to harm someone's reputation by showing shameful behaviour
1
8.5
Expressing very strong criticism
Very insulting and likely to deeply offend people
Antonyms
How Scornful
- Offensive
10
9.3
- Formal
1
9.9
7
5.1
- Offensive
1
7.0
210
3.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
opprobrious = opprobrium (opaque) = opprobri + ous
The base word 'opprobrium' is rare and not transparent to most learners, and the meaning of 'opprobrious' is not easily inferred from it.
Etymology
Opprobrious comes from Latin parts op- ('against') and probr- ('shame' or 'disgrace'), so it originally meant speaking 'against' someone to shame them. That's why opprobrious today describes very strong criticism or words that cause public disgrace.